The Simply Retirement Podcast
Welcome to The Simply Retirement Podcast with Eric Blake, a financial professional from Blake Wealth Management. Our goal is to support women approaching retirement and help them navigate the challenges of this important phase of life. With years of expertise, Eric and his guests provide insights and advice on retirement planning, specifically for widows, divorcees, or women that are simply ready to take control of their financial future. Our “Simply Retirement Roadmap Process” is a key part of our philosophy. Knowing “what’s next?” can be overwhelming, so we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you navigate your retirement planning journey. Starting with a 15-Minute Introductory phone call to get to know each other better, if together we feel it makes sense, we help you build your own Simply Retirement Roadmap and walk side by side with you down the path to financial freedom. So join us on The Simply Retirement Podcast and visit our website at www.blakewealthmanagement.com
Episodes
Your Social Security statement might look simple, but the details behind it can shape your entire retirement plan.
Are you only looking at the benefit numbers, or are you missing the bigger picture that could impact your future income?
In this episode, I walk through how to properly read your Social Security statement and w...
There are moments in life when everything shifts at once: your identity, your roles, and your plans for the future.
What happens when the life you expected changes, and you’re left asking what comes next?
In this episode, I sit down with Oona Metz, LICSW, CGP, licensed clinical social worker and certified group psychotherap...
Divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions and financial uncertainty collide.
How do you make clear decisions when everything feels uncertain? And how can the right guidance help you avoid costly mistakes along the way?
In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Daly, Managing Partner at Cohen Seglias, to talk th...
Most people think tax season ends when the return is filed, but that may be where the real opportunity begins.
What if your tax return could guide smarter financial decisions instead of sitting untouched for a year?
In this episode, I explain how your tax return can become a valuable planning tool instead of something you f...
Facing major life changes can feel overwhelming, especially when the future is unclear and the stakes are high.
How do you move forward when fear, finances, and identity are all shifting at once?
In this episode, I chat with Claudia Porter, CFP®, CDFA®, Wealth Advisor at RFG Advisory, about navigating divorce, financial unc...
What happens when retirement stops being a finish line and starts being a choice?
What if the biggest barrier between you and financial freedom isn’t the math, it’s the mindset?
In this episode, I sit down with Bernadette Joy, author and CEO of CRUSH Your Money Goals®, for a candid conversation about what it rea...
One hundred episodes in. More than a milestone, this is a window into the heart behind the work.
In this episode, I reflect on what it means to reach Episode 100 of the Simply Retirement Podcast, alongside the people who know me best, my family, Dawn Blake, Kaitlyn Blake-Lolliot, and Eric L. Blake.
We talk about why helpin...
When divorce puts the future of your home into question, the biggest risk is making decisions before you fully understand your options.
In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Ellison, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner at Divorce Mortgage Solutions, to walk through how mortgage planning, settlement language, and income rules can...
When life feels noisy, the real issue is not always a lack of time; it is often a lack of clarity.
The biggest decisions in life rarely get solved by doing more. They get solved by cutting through the clutter, focusing on what matters most, and taking one small step at a time.
In this episode, I talk with Jill Beck, founder...
Many women approaching retirement worry that Social Security may not be there when they need it most. That uncertainty can make retirement planning feel overwhelming.
But what do the numbers actually say?
In this episode, I break down the real projections behind Social Security and what they mean for women approaching retir...
Many people ask whether retiring early will help them live longer. The real conversation is much bigger than that.
Statistics and social media posts often push simple conclusions, but retirement decisions are rarely simple. Health, caregiving responsibilities, longevity, and financial readiness all play a role.
In this epis...
Many women enter retirement assuming life insurance is no longer necessary, only to discover that the real issue is not coverage, but access to cash when it matters most.
In this episode, I walk through how the purpose of life insurance changes as you approach and enter retirement. I explain why the real question is not whether you should keep a policy, but what...
Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you approach retirement, especially if you’re navigating it on your own.
Yet many women don’t realize how much clarity and confidence can come from simply asking the right questions before committing to a long-term relationship.
In this epis...
Many retirees unknowingly walk away from life insurance policies without realizing they may still hold value. For women navigating retirement, widowhood, or major life changes, understanding every available option can make a meaningful difference.
In this episode, I talk with Lisa Rehburg, President of Rehburg Life Insurance Settlements, about how life insurance...
RMDs are one of those retirement rules that feel simple on the surface, until the tax consequences show up years later.
In this episode, I walk through what required minimum distributions are, when they start, and why missing or mismanaging them can quietly raise taxes, Medicare costs, and long-term financial stress. I explain how planning early creates flexibil...
Most people know they should be saving for retirement, but fewer understand how contribution rules, taxes, and prioritization actually work together.
Small decisions, like where you save first or how you respond to changing tax brackets, can shape long-term outcomes far more than people realize.
In this episode, I walk thro...
Divorce later in life is not just a legal event; it is an emotional and financial turning point that reshapes identity, confidence, and long-term planning.
In this episode, I sit down with Mardi Winder, a strategic divorce consultant and founder of Positive Communication Systems, to discuss what really happens before, during, and after a gray divorce.
Social Security decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to understand spousal and survivor benefits.
What benefits are you entitled to based on your spouse’s record? When should you claim them?
In this Q&A episode, I address two common Social Security questions that women face. I walk through the ...
Major life transitions can leave you feeling lost and uncertain about your financial future.
How do you move forward when everything feels overwhelming? What questions should you even be asking when you’re navigating divorce, widowhood, or any significant financial change?
In this episode, I sit down with Tony Steuer,...
That annual Social Security increase announcement can be confusing.
Is it a bonus? Will it cover your rising costs? More importantly, how does it really affect your decisions about when to retire and when to claim your benefits?
In this episode, I unpack the new 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. We explore how Socia...
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